Disclaimer: I do not own this marvelous universe, J.R.R. Tolkien does.

A/N: I have read numerous fics chronicling what happened after Legolas and Gimli passed over the sea, especially in relation to what happened between Legolas and Aragorn. This is just my humble attempt at such a fic, and I hope you enjoy! Please R&R!

'Sindarin (Elvish)'

"Common Speech/Westron"

/Personal Thoughts/

.:Don't Say Goodbye:.

Chapter I: Thriondil

By Sentimental Star

-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-

My hand to yours

Let our spirits run free

Let our souls intermingle

For brothers of blood, are we

My life for your own

Your truth for my lie

When we walk we are one

And thus together we'll die.

---Heather Alexander "Blood Brothers"

-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-

(One Hundred Thirty Years Ago, Lothlórien)

Evening. Galadriel's Garden.

He has just finished a bout of crying and raises his head from Legolas's now thoroughly damp shoulder. His voice is hushed with weariness as he murmurs, 'Hannon-lle, quel mellon-nin.'

''Twas naught, Aragorn,' Legolas replies gently with a tender smile, although it is quite clear he himself was also crying, or at least, had been crying.

He shakes his head. 'Please do not call me that.'

Legolas is plainly startled. 'Why ever not?'

''Tis my name, aye, but not the one I wish to be called by you,' he answers. 'Call me Estel, as you have for many years.'

A second small smile graces the Elven prince's lips. 'I would not call you by that name, for 'twas the name Lord Elrond and the twins gave you.'

He raises an eyebrow.

Legolas elaborates. ' 'Twas a name I called you aloud, aye, but for many years, although you have been my 'estel,' I have called you something quite different in my mind and in my heart.'

The other eyebrow rises. 'Another name, Legolas? I was under the impression that I had quite enough.'

The Silvan Elf throws back his head in laughter. 'Aye! Estel, Elessar, Elfstone, Dúnadan, Aragorn, Strider, and Thorongil. Any others I missed?'

'Longshanks,' he supplies quietly, although 'tis his least favorite nickname. 'Twas one he received in Bree from the fearful and the feared, and 'twas one he never much liked.

'And I should be glad to miss such a one as that,' Legolas retorts sternly, a glint of steel in his eyes and in his voice. 'You are no more Longshanks to me than I am an Orc to you.'

A mischievous smile flits across his countenance. He can say something…

A frown mars the prince's features—he obviously knows his line of thought very well. 'Do not even think about it, mellon-nin,' he warns.

He does his best to appear innocent 'What? I merely was going to remark on your…er…delightful disposition in the morning.'

He drops the look and laughs at the light scowl being shot at him by his best friend, which only serves to deepen the prince's scowl. 'Oh, mellon-nin, you must promise me you will always be here for me when I need you,' he chuckles.

And abruptly finds his head pressed tightly against Legolas's chest, the Silvan Elf's elegant fingers tangled fast in his unruly dark hair. A fresh bout of tears is imminent as he realizes he is clutching the prince's tunic. The Firstborn's head rests atop his, the other being's golden blonde strands intermixing with his own darker ones. His beloved friend's voice is tremulous as the Elf murmurs, 'Oh, you silly human, of course I will! There never was a time when I was not…'

His own breathing goes ragged in the silence that follows. Somehow he knows the prince has not finished. Somehow he knows whatever is to be spoken will ultimately alter their relationship for all time. He is positive Legolas knows the same.

But no response is forthcoming.

At last he decides to take the initiative. 'What is it that you would call me, quel mellon-nin?' he asks softly.

Legolas merely looks at him, gaze thoughtful. Considering. Finally: '…Thriondil.'

Several things occur at the same time. Before his mind registers what his heart already knows, wind swirls around him, lifting his shoulder-length hair and causing the dark strands to billow about his face. Bright light swirls around he and the prince for the barest of moments, simply a fleeting touch of warmth, before the air surrounding them returns to normal.

He can only gape at the prince. Dear Ilúvatar, Valar Across the Sea, does Legolas know what naming him 'Thriondil' entails? Does he know how deeply they are now connected? Does he know how dangerous a decision that is?

He once picked up a book in his Elven father's private study out of pure curiosity soon after Lord Elrond revealed his true heritage to him—at least the first parts of it—hoping beyond hope that there existed some friendliness between these Elves whom he loved so much and the race of which he was one day supposed to be king. Consequently, he found out about the Alliance of Elves and Men (which many people, their own families included, claimed he and Legolas were the embodiment of; the Alliance of Elves and Men in actual flesh and blood)…and Elven names. Among them were 'Elf-friend' and 'Thriondil'—in fact, a whole chapter was dedicated to those two particular endearments. Of those, Thriondil was most strange to him.

It soon became clear why:

Thriondil. It meant "Elf-brother." And to name a mortal as such was nothing short of complete surrender of the Elf's heart and soul.

Doesn't Legolas know that?

A touch to his face and he turns still-widened-eyes to the prince's greatly softened midnight ones. Legolas gives a serene smile. 'Will you not say something?' he murmurs, tenderly brushing his knuckles against his cheek.

His voice suddenly decides to work: 'Dear, sweet Eru,' he chokes. 'Have you any idea what you have done, Elf?'

Legolas's eyes are dead serious. 'I know exactly what I did, Human.'

Tears came again. So much is there that he wants to say, to do, but he can only shake his head violently, flinging tears to the sides, and burst out thickly, 'Why?! Of all names, why call me 'Thriondil?''

The prince's response is passionate, heartfelt: 'Because I love you! Because you are my brother!'

TBC

Elvish Translations:

Hannon-lle, quel mellon-nin (Thank you, my dear friend)

Estel (One of Aragorn's many name, the one given to him by his foster father Lord Elrond; it means "Hope")

Mellon-nin (My friend)

Thriondil (Elf-brother)

Quel mellon-nin (My dear friend)